Study: Well-targeted brain training videogame can lead to real-life benefits

A Multitasking Video Game Makes Old Brains Act Younger (The New York Times): “Brain scientists have discovered that swerving around cars while simultaneously picking out road signs in a video game can improve the short-term memory and long-term focus of older adults. Some people as old as 80, the researchers say, begin to show neurological patterns of people in their 20s… “We know we can rewire the brain, but the challenge is how to do it properly,” she said. “We’re in the primitive age of brain training.” Study: Video game training enhances cognitive control in older adults (Nature; requires subscription) Abstract: Cognitive control is defined by a set of neural processes that allow us to interact with our complex environment in a goal-directed manner. Humans regularly challenge these control processes when attempting to simultaneously accomplish multiple goals (multitasking), generating interference as the result of fundamental information processing limitations. It is clear that multitasking behaviour has become ubiquitous in today’s technologically dense world, and substantial evidence has accrued regarding multitasking difficulties and cognitive control deficits in our ageing population. Here we show that multitasking performance, as assessed with a custom-designed three-dimensional video game (NeuroRacer), exhibits a linear age-related decline from 20 to 79 years of age. By playing an adaptive version of NeuroRacer in multitasking training mode, older a...
Source: SharpBrains - Category: Neurologists Authors: Tags: Cognitive Neuroscience Technology Brain-Training cognitive-abilities cognitive-control cognitive-enhancement multitasking NeuroRacer videogame Source Type: blogs